Meat cutting machine



Oct. 1o, 195o w,- Ff SPAN@ 2,525,004

MEAT CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q mv 4 K Oct.10, 1950 w. F. sPANG MEAT CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.23. 1946 w. F. SPAN@ 2,525,004

MEAT CUTTING MACHINE ica., m 195o Filed Nov. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5ci. l0, 1950 W, F, SPAN@ 2525?@4 MEAT CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25,1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wg.' IB

l INVENfroR.

mzmm Fi pamg, Byfh E@ Wfl Patentecl Oct. 10, 1950 MEAT CUTTING MACHINEWilliam F. Spang, Milton, Mass., assigner to Cube YSteak Machine Co.,Boston, Mass., a partnership Application November 23, 1946, Serial No.711,919

4 Claims.

l This invention relates `to a meat Cutting machine and more especiallyto a new and improved meat cutting saw of the endless band type. I amaware that machines of this general nature are not new and the primaryobject of my invention resides in the production of an im proved andmore economical machine of this type embodying novel features rendering.the machine more eicient for the purpose described.

My invention contemplates a compact base housing adapted to rest on thefloor and an associated bracket extending upwardly from the rear portionof the housing to a position above a horizontal tab-le on the housing,and disposed within the housing and bracket are three wheels forsupporting the saw in a triangular path providing a deep workaccommodating throat and a relatively large table and making possible amore effective control of the saw. Two of the lsaw supporting wheels aredisposed within the base housing and one of these wheels is mounted in aguide and provided with novel means for placing a predetermined tensionon the saw. The third wheel is mounted on an arm Ain the over-hangingbracket and is provided with means for conveniently adjusting the armand wheel to the most eicient saw supporting position while the machineis in operation. Other novel features which contribute to the moreeicien't operation of the machine are guide means for the saw at thework supporting table including removable and interchangeable sawguiding blocks, ScrapersY and wipers for keeping thev saw and itssupporting wheels clean and an improved slice thickness gaugeconveniently adjustable along the table toward and from the saw. Theproduction of an improved meat cutting machine embodying these and otherimprovements herein disclosed comprises a further object of theinvention.

These and other features of the invention will be more readilyunderstood and appreciated from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of il-VV lustrationand `shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: f i Y Fig. l is aperspective View of, a meat cuttin machine embodying my invention. :l g

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation broken away to illustrate theinterior mechanism. I y,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partially broken away. Fig. 4 is afragmentary view ofthe saw tensioning and tension indicating means.

Fig.'4a is a fragmentary detail view of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryperspective View of the saw guiding. mechanism.-. I

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the saw guide block supporting means.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on Ii-'I of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the saw guiding mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the thickness gauge, taken on line 9-9of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the front reach of the sawand its guiding and cleaning means. Y

Fig. 10EL is a plan view taken on line 16a-10a of Fig. 10.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same, partially brokenaway.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan View taken online I2-I2 of Fig. 2.

My improved meat cutting machine as illustrated in the drawingscomprises a base housing ii) adapted to rest on the floor and havingtherein lower and upper chambers I2 and Ici topped by a horizontal tableI5. A vertical wall I and partition Il are disposed in the housingbetween the two chambers. Secured to the rear face of the housing, as bybolts IS, is a hollow bracket 26 eX- tending upwardly and forwardly to aposition above the table. Disposed within the housing and bracket arethree wheels 2|, 22 and 23 on which is supported in a triangular path aband saw 2li having its front reach extending vertically' througli thetable. The two wheels 2i and 22 are y disposed in vertical alignmentrespectively in the upper chamber Ill of the housing I and the tcpportion ofthe bracket 2B, and the third wheel 23 is disposed in thechamber I4 rearwardly of the wheel 2| and is in engagement with andsupports the rear reach of the saw which extends therefrom upwardlythrough the bracket. The interior of the housing IU is accessiblethrough a side door 25 provided with a latch handle 21.

The wheel 2l is mounted to rotate in a fixed bearing on the wall I6 inthe-upper chamber IG and is secured to its shaft 28 by a lock nut 2Q.The shaft and wheel are driven by V-beits 30 from a motor 32 in thelower chamber. The motor is supported on a base 33 pivoted at 34. Meansincluding a bolt 35 anchored at 36, together with a nut 3'! and springs38, are provided for pivotally adjusting the base 33 to place thedesired amount of driving tension on the belts.

The upper wheel 22 is mounted to rotate on a stud 40 carried by an armil pivotally hung on the shelf 42 rigidly attached to one wall of thebracket 20. The lower end of the arm extends laterally to a positionbeyond the periphery of the wheel and is engaged by the inner end of astud 44 threaded through the bracket wall. Rotafibre scraper 48 incontact with the periphery of the wheel. The scraper continuously servesto keep the saw contacting periphery of the wheel clean and the mountingof the scrapery onthe arm always maintains the scraper in proper contactwith the wheel.

The wheel 23 is rotatably supported on a stud carried by a block 52mounted to slide horizontally in a guideway formed by two plates 53secured to the `vali i6. l shaft 54 threaded into the block 52 extendsforwardly of the machine and has a hand wheel 55- ;lixed to its frontend at the front face of the housing I G. A cupped bushing 55 `fixed tothe shaft is adapted to receive a compression spring i' disposed on theshaft'be tween the bushing and theV front wall oi the housing. Expansionof the spring forces the shaft rearwardly and places the saw undertension as will be understood.

It is in 'fortant that the degree of saw tension shall be predeterminedand maintained and the following described mechanism is adapted tocooperate with the bushing and spring for this purpose. A lever 58pivoted to the frame wall at 69 (Fig. e) has its top end in contact withthe forward end of the bushing. The lower end of the lever has pin andslot connection 52 with a rod GS slidable longitudinally through thewall at $4. A gauge indicator on the forward end of the rod, outside thehousing, cooperates with a pin G5 carried by the housing and having anindex marl; G8 so located thereon that propel' tension is placed on thesaw when the index 55 is in alignment the index mark S8. A tensionspring l5 is provided for maintaining the lever 59 in Contact with thebushing 56.

It will be apparent that rotation of the hand wheel 55 and shaft 54 inone direction moves the block 52 forwardly along the shaft and rotationin the opposite direction moves the block rearthus moving the blockrearwardly places the'saw under tension and the spring 5l'under'ocmpression and that the amounts'of such tension and compressionincrease as the'shaft and bushing are moved forwardly and the spring 5lcomav pressed. Such forward movement of the shaftv is measured by themechanism of lever Yf5@ andv tains the scraper in properlcontact withVthel wheel. rihe maintaining of clean wheels-is furthermore facilitatedby grooving the peripheries of the wheels circumferentially as indicatedin Fig. 3.

The table f5 comprises a rear fixed portion l' and a forward movableportion l?, both supported on the horizontal top wall i9 of the housingi9. The table portion l is removableandis' nor:

lt will furthermore be 'apparent that mally secured in rlxed position bylatches, one of which is illustrated at 8D. The table portion 17 iscarried on anti-friction rolls 82 mounted to travel in U-shaped tracks83 on the top wall 18 and is movable thereon along the table portion l.4The front reach of the saw extends vertically through the table betweenthe portions "I6 and 'l1 and is guided by rolls 34 and 86 engaging therear edge of the saw respectively above and beneath the table (Figs. 10and l1). The roll 84 is carried on a block 81 secured to the bottom endof a rod 88 mounted for vertical adjustment in the-top end of thebracket 29, the block being slotted at 8| to receive the saw. The blockand roll are adjustable toward and from the saw by means of 'a' screw 89ljournaled to the block and secured vby a nut 85 and can be held inadjusted position by a lock nut 99. A dowel pin 9| cooperates with thescrew to support the .block on the rod. The roll 86 is mounted on ablock 92 fixed to the wall i6 by a bolt 93 and dowel 94 (Fig. 11). Tworesilient fingers 95 carried by the block engage lthe opposite facesvofthe saw and serve to scrape it clean during the meat cutting operation.Soft cleaning pads 95 also carried by the block serve to wipe theSawafter it passes the cleaning fingers.

My improved machine contemplates the employment of further saw guidingmeans mounted in the table ior directly taking the working rearward andforward thrusts of the saw. This means comprises a guide blocksupporting frame 9i secured to a spacer plate I9 on the top plate i8 byscrews 99. This frame is relatively long, U-shaped in cross section andits center portion is cutawayl at 99 to accommodate the saw. The frameis adapted to receive and support two saw guiding blocks i0@ and [9| inabutting relation and provided with juxtaposed and aligned slots 92 and|63 for receiving the saw. The table plate 'I6 rests on the frame overthe blocks and is out away adjacent to the slots |02 and |93. The

block 'i 39 for engaging the rear portion of the saw is of'steel and theblock ||l| forwardly of the cutting edge of the saw is of fibre. Leafsprings il fixed to the block carry detent pins H for engaging andholdingthe Vblocks 'in place inthe frame.

The meat to be cut is'supported' on the carriage TI and the thickness ofslice, out bythe saw can be vaccmrately gauged by'supporting'the meat incontactl with a gauging plate |96 disposed vertically over thetableportion-l|iqThe plate |536 is supported on an armV 'l'mountedforpivotal and sliding-movement lonand alongfa rod y'|98 attached to thehousing, I0. lA toothed rack |09 parallel with and disposedinwardly ofthe rod is adapted to receive and cooperate with a toothed segment ||0of the arm and hold the lplate nXed when it is in working position onthe table. The plate is freely adjustablev alon'gthe rod when pivotedupwardly suihciently to .'disengage ,the segment H9 from the rack. I

The simple and economicalfde'signof my improved meat cutting machineandA its'convenent and elicient operation varel believedwapparent. Thetriangularsupporting of the-saw 24 not only i eliminates bulky overheadconstruction but provides a deep work-accomodating throat between thesaw and bracket 20 and a large xed table.

portion 'I6 for receiving. yand supporting stacks of cut slices. Thelmaintaining of proper saw tension is also conveniently and efficientlyeec'ted by my improved adjustingv rand indicating mech-- amsm inassociation with..the;third,sawzsupporting wheel 23, and the employmentof the third wheel for the saw tensioning function very substantiallyreduces the bearing pressures which would otherwise be placed on andrequired of the saw supporting wheels 2| and 22. The adjustable mountingof the top wheel 22 and its adjustment through rotation of the knurledhead 45 serves to maintain the saw in true running alignment through theguide blocks |00 and E61. These blocks are disposed directly beneath andadjacent to the meat cutting position where the block |00 takes the rearthrust of the saw during the cutting operation and the block i preventsfollow-up forward movement of the saw when the meat is removed. Theprovision of means permitting convenient removal and replacement ofthese blocks and the maintaining of a clean saw and saw supporting rollsadd substantially to the efcient operation of the machine as also doesthe work guiding plate 06 which is freely adjustable along the rod |08when slightly lifted from the table.

My improved construction herein disclosed compactly and convenientlymounts most of the operating mechanism in a heavy base housing unit welladapted to provide a firm and rugged support for a relatively lightweight top portion including the hollow bracket secured to the rear ofthe base housing and providing a deep cutting throat with free operatingspace on and above the tables 16 and 11. The partition wall i6 extendsvertically from front to rear through the base housing unit and servesto bind the front and rear walls and the top wall 13 into a rigid unit.The partition furthermore serves to support the shaft 28 and guide 53together with their cooperating mechanism and` to provide a separatingwall between the saw and driving mechanism. The bracket '20 is providedwith an integral partition ll2 arranged (Fig. l2) to cooperate with thepartition iii in continuing the separating wall upwardly within thebracket. The barrier formed by these partitions, together with thepartition Il above and extending about the motor 32, keeps meatparticles from entering the saw driving chamber where they wouldcontaminate the driving mechanism, and permits cleaning and ushing ofthe saw chamber independently of the driving mechanism chamber. Theheavy base unit construction provides a suitable housing and tablesupport and gives the machine a low center of gravity and ruggedstability.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A meat saw comprising a base housing, a horizontal table thereon, abracket carried by and extending upwardly and forwardly from the rearportion of the housing to a position above the table, two band sawsupporting wheels carried respectively in the housing and the topportion of the bracket, a band saw on the wheels and having its frontreach extending vertically through the table, a third wheel in thehousing rearwardly of the rst named wheel therein and in engagement withand supporting the rear reach of the saw which extends therefromupwardly through the` bracket, and means including an adjusting elementlocated forwardly of the front face of the housing and beneath the tablefor adjusting the third wheel rearwardly to tighten the saw.

2. The combination defined in claim l plus a guide fon supporting thethird wheel in the housing for movement forwardly-rearwardly,

said means including a shaft extending from the guide forwardly throughthe housing, a spring cooperating witn the shaft for resisting theforward thrust of the wheel in the guide, and means cooperating with theshaft for indicating forwardly of the front face of the housing andbeneath the table the longitudinal movement of the shaft against thespring.

3. A meat cutting machine comprising a base housing, a horizontal tableon the housing inciuding a rear fixed portion and a forward horizontallymovable portion, a vertical partition secured rigidly to the walis ofthe housing and extending forwardly-rearwardly therethrough and dividingthe housing into two chambers, a hollow bracket attached to the rear ofthe base housing and extending upwardly and forwardly over the table, aband saw having a forward reach extending vertically through the table,three wheels supporting the saw in a triangular path including a reachextending through the hollow bracket, one wheel being carried by thebracket above the table and the other two wheels being supported on thepartition beneath the table in one of said chambers, means in the otherchamber for driving one of said two wheels, and means including anadjusting wheel beneath the table and forwardly of the front face of thebase housing for adjusting the other of said two wheelsforwardly-rearwardly of the machine.

4. The combination delnedin claim 1 in which said means includes a shaftconnected to said adjusting element and extending rearwardly therefromin the housing and into adjusting relation with said third wheel, andmeans associated with said shaft for indicating the tensioning of thesaw forwardly of the front face of the housing and beneath the table.

WILLIAM F. SPANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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